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3 crew dead after catapults accidentally triggered during Tu-22M3 strategic bomber launch in Russia 3 crew dead after catapults accidentally triggered during Tu-22M3 strategic bomber launch in Russia
(30 minutes later)
Three people have been killed after the ejection system of a Tu-22M3 bomber aircraft went off during pre-flight preparations outside west-Russian city of Kaluga, the country’s military has said.Three people have been killed after the ejection system of a Tu-22M3 bomber aircraft went off during pre-flight preparations outside west-Russian city of Kaluga, the country’s military has said.
The deadly accident was reported by Russian media on Tuesday and confirmed by the Ministry of Defence shortly afterwards. The military aircraft’s ejection system activated during pre-flight preparations, sending three pilots to their deaths. 
“The altitude has been too low for the parachutes to work, and three crew members have received fatal injuries when they landed,” the ministry said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was harmed during the accident. Planes of the type usually have four crewmembers on board.
It also remains unknown whether the plane sustained any damage during the accident. While Russian media reports described it as a ‘crash,’ the defense ministry’s statement suggested the bomber had not gotten into the air at all.
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